Skyrme was Director of Product Planning at Timex.
Skyrme began working with computers in 1958, when machines had 650 bytes of memory and used toggle switches for binary inputs. With a background in mathematics and physics, he transitioned to marketing when he recognized the emerging need for personal and home computers. After building one of the early computer kits himself with minimal support, he understood both the technical possibilities and the practical challenges facing hobbyists.
When Clive Sinclair developed the ZX80 and sought a manufacturing partner, Skyrme heard about the machine and saw its potential for “good human interfacing.” He helped establish the manufacturing relationship between Timex Scotland and Sinclair Research that would lead to the marketing agreement bringing Sinclair computers to America as Timex products.
Skyrme left Timex in 1984 and later became President of Psion America.